Rep. Efstathia Booras

Maddy summaryHB 1812 requires health insurers in New Hampshire to conduct third-party evaluations of mental health network adequacy every three years. These evaluations must measure appointment availability (within 7-14 days), ensure at least 70% of appointments are in-person, and assess provider distribution by specialty (like psychiatry and child services) across the state. The bill directly affects health insurers, mandating they report findings to regulators and the public, with violations subject to administrative fines up to $5,000 per covered person. It aims to ensure mental health services are accessible without unreasonable delays, particularly for vulnerable groups like those with substance use disorders or developmental disabilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1739 creates incentives to attract large data-center campuses to New Hampshire while modernizing the electric grid. It offers developers phased property tax breaks over 12 years and transferable tax credits covering up to 20% of construction costs, contingent on signing binding Grid Modernization Agreements. These agreements require developers to source non-gas electricity (like solar or wind) matching their energy use, fund grid-stabilizing programs, and partner with community colleges for workforce training in data-center operations. The bill also establishes fast-track permitting for eligible sites and mandates community benefits like noise limits, environmental screening, and resident bill credits from exported power.

Maddy summaryHB 1715 requires all domestic violence and stalking petition filings to be submitted electronically through the court's system starting October 1, 2026, with exceptions only for extraordinary hardship preventing access. It directly affects individuals filing these petitions, including victims seeking protection orders, by mandating electronic submission instead of paper filings. The bill specifies no filing fees and allows self-representation, while requiring courts to develop a new secure electronic system to handle confidential cases, including encryption and law enforcement integration. This change applies to both domestic violence cases (RSA 173-B) and stalking cases (RSA 633:3-a), replacing temporary pandemic-era email filing methods.

Maddy summaryHB 1405 establishes a program allowing New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority to guarantee up to 80% of loans for affordable housing projects. This reduces risk for lenders financing housing where costs (rent/mortgage plus utilities/taxes) do not exceed 30% of residents' income, defined as 50-80% of state median income. The program limits annual guarantees to $30 million per lender and $300 million total statewide. It directly affects lenders, housing developers, and low/moderate-income residents seeking affordable homes.

Maddy summaryHB 1661 expands New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority's "Community Heroes" program to provide homeownership assistance to essential workers. It appropriates $750,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $1.5 million annually thereafter from the General Fund to fund the program, with no more than 10% allowed for administrative costs. The program specifically targets eligible workers in healthcare, childcare, elder care, law enforcement, firefighting, education, and active military service, allowing them to use funds for down payments, closing costs, or interest rate reductions. The bill requires the Housing Finance Authority to establish rules defining eligibility and takes effect July 1, 2028, for the annual appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require fiber optic internet providers to fix service outages for public safety and public health organizations before addressing commercial or residential customers. The rule applies specifically to disruptions in communication and internet access caused by damage to fiber optic cables. If passed, the law would become active 60 days after its enactment. However, a recent interim study recommended against moving forward with this legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 1689 updates the rules for how state agencies handle personal identifying information within vital records. The bill clarifies that terms like "personal identifiers" include names, addresses, and social security numbers, while restricting the Department of Health and Human Services from accessing these specific details. It establishes a requirement for the Secretary of State to provide continuous electronic access to statistical mortality and natality data, excluding any restricted adoption records or court-protected files. Additionally, the legislation allows for the sharing of health-related data for research purposes under strict conditions, including federal HIPAA compliance and a mandatory review process before any release occurs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the distribution of artificial intelligence-generated media that falsely depicts a specific person without their consent and without a clear label indicating the content is synthetic. It applies to anyone who shares such misleading text, images, videos, or audio with the intent to deceive others about what the person actually did. The law creates a stricter penalty for content used near elections or intended to harm a candidate, classifying those offenses as felonies in repeat cases or when violence is provoked. Violations of the general rule are punishable as misdemeanors, while election-related violations carry heavier penalties under specific circumstances. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies which school districts are responsible for funding special education services for children with disabilities placed in state facilities for detained or adjudicated youth or county correctional facilities. It establishes that the responsible district is determined by the child's legal custody status and their most recent residence before entering the facility, while also capping the liability at the state average elementary cost per pupil. Additionally, the legislation requires the Department of Education to remove certain student records from the state special education information system and to develop rules for alternative dispute resolution procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for how lobbyists in New Hampshire must report their financial activities to the Secretary of State. It requires lobbyists to file electronic statements by the end of January, May, July, and September that detail all fees received and expenses paid since the last report. The law also mandates that these filings be submitted in a digital format capable of linking income, spending, and political contributions for easier tracking. These new reporting requirements will officially begin taking effect on January 1, 2027.